This is a work about the religion of Judaism, not about the Jews and their history. The author rejects the traditional Sinai to Golders Green approach, and instead begins by showing how Judaism is seen today in the world around us: how it is practised, and its principal organizations. Later in the book Neusner tackles the formative history of Judaism we see how the contemporary religion has taken shape. From this unconventional reading Judaism emerges as full of diversity and vitality. The focus of the book is the religion as it lives and forms the lives of real people.